Baraga County Memorial Hospital raises funds for Honor Flight

L’ANSE — Keweenaw residents turned out in full force at a fundraiser in L’Anse in support of local veterans.

Employees of the Baraga County Memorial Hospital donated time and food to put together a luncheon to raise money for the Honor Flight fund. Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that sends veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to Washington D.C. twice a year to visit the monuments and memorials that honor their services.

While in the nation’s capitol, those who have served their country in any of the three overseas conflicts are greeted with a marching band and a full tour at no personal expense. The goal of Wednesday’s fundraiser was to raise $500, which would send one local veteran on the one day round trip.

As it received such strong community support, three Keweenaw Veterans will make that journey in May as the luncheon generated over $1,700.

“Through our standards of behavior our employees actually have two hours of volunteer time for a community event. So this is a double fold activity and it provides our employees an opportunity to volunteer but it also gives us the opportunity for us to give money back to the Honor Flight and honor our veterans,” said Margie Hale, the CEO of Baraga County Memorial Hospital.

Wednesday’s fundraiser was the hospital’s first attempt at such an event and, due to overwhelming success, Hale anticipates that this will become a new tradition for the hospital.